Climate

Here's how breathing bad air affects you, and how to protect your health
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer speaks with Mayo Clinic Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn about the short- and long-term health impacts of breathing wildfire smoke. MPR Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard has the latest forecast.
Youth go to trial in a test of state’s obligation to protect Montana residents from warming
The 16 young plaintiffs — supported by a parade of leading climate experts — are trying to persuade state District Judge Kathy Seeley that the state’s allegiance to fossil fuel development endangers their health and livelihoods and those of future generations.
Some homes are becoming 'uninsurable' due to climate-related risks
Allstate and State Farm are the latest to stop offering homeowner’s insurance in California. Now, homeowners are facing fewer insurance options and skyrocketing costs. What does this mean for the rest of the country and the future of insurance in a world of climate change?
Earth’s oceans are the hottest on record
Earth’s oceans are the hottest on record. That’s the finding from a recent paper in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. What effects could this have globally and in Minnesota?
Dams are an often overlooked source of greenhouse gas emissions
It turns out dams emit greenhouse gas — a lot of it. Just how much do they emit and why are some rivers better off left to flow naturally? Steven Hawley, author of “Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World,” discusses what a world without dams could bring.
U of M to oversee multi-state effort to help unlock federal funding for climate projects
The University of Minnesota has received a $10 million grant to lead a multi-state effort to help rural, tribal and underserved communities apply for and secure federal resources for climate action. The grant will go towards creating technical assistance centers in six states that are scheduled to open this summer.
Lake Superior: Honoring and protecting Minnesota’s natural wonder
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talks with a scientist, two artists and people who dip into its icy waters about the special relationships Minnesotans have with this natural wonder and how the lake is threatened by climate change.